10 Downing Street

Francis Maude: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office pursuant to the answer of 13 January 2009,  Official Report, columns 581-82W, on 10 Downing Street, how many Downing Street-branded wallets have been sold by the gift shop in the last 18 months or nearest equivalent period for which figures are available.

Angela Smith: I have nothing further to add to the earlier answer.

Departmental Billing

Philip Hammond: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office pursuant to the answer of 13 May 2009,  Official Report, column 835W, on departmental billing, how much her Department's non-departmental public bodies paid in interest to suppliers under the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998 in the last three years.

Angela Smith: The Office of the Third Sector in Cabinet Office sponsors two executive non-departmental public bodies—Capacitybuilders and the Commission for the Compact.
	Capacitybuilders was formally established in April 2006 and the Commission for the Compact in November 2007.
	No payments under the Late Payments of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998 have been made by the Commission for the Compact since its establishment. Capacitybuilders have made interest payments to one supplier totalling £64.94 over the last three financial years.

Members: Correspondence

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when he plans to respond to the hon. Member for Billericay's letters of 13 March, 23 April and 25 May 2009 on his constituent Mr A Bridgen.

Joan Ruddock: holding answer 18 June 2009
	I apologise for the delay in responding to the hon. Member, and a reply from my Noble colleague, Lord Hunt, will be issued shortly.

Plutonium

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the answer of 8 June 2009,  Official Report, column 725W, on plutonium, if he will publish on his Department's website  (a) the minutes of the meeting on plutonium management held on 21 May 2009,  (b) the presentations made and  (c) the materials submitted by attendees for circulation at the meeting; and what further steps he intends to take in respect of plutonium management.

Joan Ruddock: A transcript of the meeting that includes the copies of presentations and material submitted by attendees will be published on the DECC website in early July. A summary report will also be published on the website at the same time.
	With respect to plutonium management, officials are considering the basis for a public consultation which would be expected to begin in the autumn.

Aviation: Disabled

David Anderson: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport pursuant to the answer of 5 May 2009,  Official Report, column 21W, on aviation: disabled, if he will seek discussions with the European Commission to reduce or end restrictions and extra charges by airlines on passengers who require supplementary oxygen.

Paul Clark: European Regulation 1107/2006 on the rights of disabled persons and persons with reduced mobility when travelling by air does not impose specific obligations to carry or provide oxygen in the cabin. The Department for Transport has raised the issue of carriage of medical oxygen with the European Commission at a recent meeting of national enforcement bodies for Regulation 1107/2006.
	The Commission is due to review the regulation in 2010. To help the air transport industry to comply with its obligations under the regulation, the Department has published an updated version of its code of practice 'Access to Air Travel for Disabled Persons and Persons with Reduced Mobility'. The code includes a section on oxygen which advises that air carriers may approve the carriage of small gaseous oxygen or air cylinders required for medical use, but notes that carriers will wish to ensure that these do not pose a risk to security. The code also recommends that portable oxygen concentrator devices should normally be allowed if battery powered. Where air carriers wish to supply medical oxygen to passengers on request, the code acknowledges that it would be possible to make a charge for this service to cover the provision of the oxygen.

British Overseas Territories

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 16 June 2009,  Official Report, column 166W, on British Overseas Territories: young offenders, how many of the personal records held on the Overseas Territories Regional Crime Intelligence System relate to cross-border drug offences.

Chris Bryant: There are 28,175 records relating to all drug offences on the Overseas Territories Regional Criminal Intelligence System. However, the system is not designed to differentiate between offences for drug use and those relating specifically to the movement of drugs across borders.

Departmental Air Travel

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 1 June 2009,  Official Report, column 233W, on departmental air travel, whether duty staff travelling on journeys by air of over three hours duration may  (a) claim for business class travel as part of the cost of a first class ticket and  (b) travel in economy class but claim for a business class ticket.

Chris Bryant: Staff travelling on duty journeys (official trips) are required to use approved routes, which are usually the most direct and economical. Staff on duty journeys are not permitted to fly in first class and are not permitted to downgrade to a lower class of travel and save or use the balance. Any fare saved by downgrading accrues to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Gibraltar

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 15 June 2009,  Official Report, column 73W, on Gibraltar, whether he plans to meet  (a) his Spanish counterpart and  (b) representatives of EU institutions to discuss the matter further.

Chris Bryant: As stated in my previous answer, the UK has made written and oral representations to Spain and to the EU Commission at ministerial and official level. The UK will continue to seek opportunities to raise this matter with the Commission and Spain until such time as the issue is resolved.

Treaty of Lisbon

William Cash: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what legal advice he  (a) sought and  (b) received on the implications for the validity of existing ratifications of the text of the Lisbon Treaty of the changes made to that treaty by the arrangements entered into by the European Council on 18 and 19 June; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Bryant: holding answer 26 June 2009
	My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister made clear in his statement to Parliament on 23 June 2009,  Official Report, column 662 that:
	"When the Council met in December, we agreed that we would seek to provide the legal assurances that Ireland needed to move forward on the Lisbon treaty—that is, on taxation, defence, the right to life, education and the family. But we were equally clear in doing so that there could be no change or amendment to the treaty, only clarification of what it will and will not do. That is exactly the purpose of the guarantees that the Council has agreed for Ireland."

Treaty of Lisbon

William Cash: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the Prime Minister's Statement of 23 June 2009,  Official Report, columns 661-77, on the European Council, if he will withdraw the UK's instrument of ratification of the Lisbon Treaty.

Chris Bryant: holding answer 26 June 2009
	As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister made clear in his statement to Parliament on 23 June 2009,  Official Report, column 662, the guarantees for Ireland agreed at the June European Council make "no change or amendment to the treaty, only clarification of what it will and will not do".
	Parliament has decided on the Lisbon treaty. The treaty was debated in detail in Parliament over 25 days; both Houses voted strongly in favour at every stage. The EU (Amendment) Bill which implements the Lisbon treaty in UK law received Royal Assent on 19 June 2008, and the Government ratified the treaty on 16 July 2008.

Departmental Billing

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 1 June 2009,  Official Report, column 50W, on departmental billing, how much his Department's non-departmental public bodies paid in interest under the Late Payment Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998 in the last three years.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The Treasury does not have responsibility for any non-departmental public bodies.

Landsbanki: Guernsey

Oliver Letwin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  pursuant to the answer of 13 May 2009,  Official Report, column 851W, on Landsbanki: Guernsey, whether he has offered the Guernsey authorities a loan with a view to progressing payments to depositors affected by the failure of Landsbanki Guernsey;
	(2)  what the timetable is for the conclusion of discussions between his Department and the Guernsey authorities in relation to depositors affected by the failure of Landsbanki Guernsey.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: Treasury Ministers and officials have meetings and discussions with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery. As was the case with previous Administrations, the Government do not disclose the outcome or results of all such meetings and discussions.

Lenders' Panel

Grant Shapps: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 2 June 2009,  Official Report, column 413W, on the Lenders' Panel, on which dates the panel has met since its creation; and which members attended each meeting.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The lending panel was established at the 2008 pre-Budget report and meets on a monthly basis.
	Treasury Ministers and officials have meetings with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery. As has been the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such meetings.

Poverty

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Dundee West of 16 April 2007,  Official Report, column 422W, on working tax credit, what the evidential basis was for the statement that it is those aged 25 years or over who are most likely to face poorer incentives to work or suffer persistent poverty in work.

Stephen Timms: Analysis has shown that introduction of the working tax credit halted a sharp fall in the employment rate of people without children at age 25. This analysis was published in March 2008 in "Working Tax Credit and Labour Supply: Treasury Economic Working Paper No. 3", available online at:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/d/bud08_workingpaper3_455.pdf
	The Labour Force Survey, conducted by the Office for National Statistics, also shows that while working people experience substantial wage growth up to around age 25, wage growth for those aged 25 and over is much slower. Someone who is still on a low income by the age of 25 or over is therefore more likely to experience persistent poverty.

Tax Credit Office: Correspondence

James Duddridge: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how long on average the Tax Credit Office took to respond to written queries in the latest period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: The information is not available.

Welfare Tax Credits

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much was paid out in tax credits to deceased claimants in each of the last three financial years; and how much in such payments has been recovered from the estates of the deceased.

Stephen Timms: For information about the amount of overpaid tax credits, attributable to deceased claimants up to and including 2006-07, I refer the hon. Member to the answers my predecessor (Jane Kennedy) gave him on 8 October 2007,  Official Report, column 244W and on 10 July 2008,  Official Report, column 1786W. The equivalent figure for 2007-08 was around £2 million and information for 2008-09 will be available in May 2010. Such overpayments can arise due to the time taken to notify HMRC of a death.
	HM Revenue and Customs do not maintain separate records of the amounts of overpaid tax credits recovered from the estates of deceased claimants.

Housing: Asbestos

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what guidance his Department provides to  (a) local authorities,  (b) leaseholders and  (c) tenants about the health risks from asbestos in residential property; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Austin: The housing health and safety rating system (HHSRS) is a risk based evaluation tool to help local authorities identify and protect against potential risks and hazards to health and safety from any deficiencies identified in dwellings. It was introduced under the Housing Act 2004 and came into effect on 6 April 2006. It applies to all residential properties in England.
	The HHSRS assesses 29 categories of housing hazard, each hazard has a weighting which will help determine whether the property is rated as having category 1 (serious) or category 2 (other) hazards. Asbestos (and manufactured mineral fibres) are one of the hazards.
	In February 2006, "Housing Health and Safety Rating System: Operating Guidance" and "Housing Health and Safety Rating System: Enforcement Guidance" were published. In May 2006 "Housing Health and Safety Rating System: Guidance for Landlords and Property Related Professionals" was published.

Mortgages: Government Assistance

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many people in negative equity have received assistance under the Mortgage Rescue Scheme.

John Healey: In the current economic conditions, we have acted rapidly to put in place help and support for households struggling with their mortgage at every stage: from free debt advice when problems start, to free support for cases that reach court. From 1 May, the Mortgage Rescue Scheme was expanded to include some households in negative equity. Monitoring data is available from:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/corporate/statistics/mortgagerescuestatistics
	This does not currently include specific information about applicants in negative equity.

Mortgages: Government Assistance

Joan Ryan: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many people have  (a) received and  (b) been declined assistance under the Mortgage Rescue Scheme in (i) the London Borough of Enfield and (ii) Enfield North constituency in each month since the scheme was established.

John Healey: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Castle Point (Bob Spink) today (PQ 282079).

UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 8 June 2009,  Official Report, columns 27-28WS, on the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, whether the optional protocol to the convention will be designated a European Community Treaty.

Jonathan R Shaw: No, the Government's view is that this is not necessary.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 19 May 2009,  Official Report, column 1273W, on Afghanistan: peacekeeping operations, when the rules of engagement in Afghanistan were last reviewed; and what changes were made to them as a result.

Bill Rammell: The UK rules of engagement profile for Operation HERRICK was last amended on 5 February 2008. The UK rules of engagement profiles for UK forces deployed in Afghanistan are kept under constant scrutiny with a procedure in place for amendment requests to be sent from theatre to MOD for consideration. In addition, MOD keeps these profiles under constant review to ensure they reflect current legal and policy direction. The ISAF rules of engagement directives are regularly reviewed by Commander ISAF.
	I am withholding information on what changes were made on operational rules of engagement as its disclosure would or would likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the armed forces.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 24 June 2009,  Official Report, columns 58-9WS, on Afghanistan air support, whether the Tornado GR4s are at full operational capability with the urgent operational requirement enhancements which have been delivered.

Bill Rammell: I can confirm that the Tornado GR4 aircraft deployed to Afghanistan were at full operational capability on initial deployment.

Armed Forces: Housing

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 18 January 2009,  Official Report, columns 1015-6W, on modern housing solutions: complaints, how many of the complaints made to Modern Housing Solutions originated in each region.

Kevan Jones: The requested information will take a little time to collate and verify. I will write to the hon. Member.
	 Substantive answer from Kevan Jones to Nick Harvey:
	In my answer of 28 April 2009, (Official Report, column 1150W), I promised to provide you with further information on the complaints received by Modem Housing Solutions (MHS) between May 2007 and May 2008 that originated in each region of England and Wales.
	Unfortunately, due to age of the data and changes in the way complaints are recorded it has not been possible to provide the requested details for 2007. However, the number of complaints in 2008, broken down by month and Ministry of Defence housing region is provided in the table below.
	In addition, I have included a table of number of missed appointments each month where MHS has voluntarily paid compensation to occupants in the form of a £20 gift voucher. Unfortunately, it is not possible to break the numbers down geographically.
	
		
			  Month  Housing region  Number of complaints 
			 January 2008 East 39 
			  London 120 
			  North 37 
			  South East 116 
			  South West 105 
			  West 33 
			  Total for month 450 
			
			 February 2008 East 44 
			  London 114 
			  North 41 
			  South East 101 
			  South West 101 
			  West 25 
			  Total for month 426 
			
			 March 2008 East 37 
			  London 98 
			  North 30 
			  South East 108 
			  South West 91 
			  West 18 
			  Total for month 382 
			
			 April 2008 East 63 
			  London 121 
			  North 29 
			  South East 102 
			  South West 88 
			  West 25 
			  Total for month 428 
			
			 May 2008 East 49 
			  London 113 
			  North 29 
			  South East 106 
			  South West 85 
			  West 15 
			  Total for month 397 
		
	
	
		
			   Missed appointments 
			 January 2008 208 
			 February 2008 186 
			 March 2008 180 
			 April 2008 303 
			 May 2008 225

Armed Forces: Housing

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the Answer of 1 June 2009,  Official Report, columns 35-6W, on armed forces: housing, what discussions he has had with Modern Housing Solutions on the figures for numbers of married quarters by standard for condition in the Faithful and Gould survey carried out by Modern Housing Solutions.

Kevan Jones: The asset condition survey of Service Family Accommodation (SFA) in England and Wales was carried out in order to provide improved management information for reporting on the condition of the SFA estate, and to enable the Department to make improved planning decisions for future investment in the SFA estate.
	Although the results of this survey do not impact directly on the terms and conditions of the Housing Prime Contract with Modern Housing Solutions (MHS), officials have worked closely with MHS to ensure the accuracy and validity of the survey results.
	We continue to work closely with MHS, and its counterparts, to ensure that the standards of SFA continue to improve. Over 90 per cent. of our stock in England and Wales is already at the two highest standards for condition. Service families are no longer required to live in SFA at the lowest Standard for Condition, although some may chose to do so. From 2012 no families will have to live in properties at either of the two lowest Standards for Condition.
	We are committed to housing service personnel and their families in high quality accommodation.

Armed Forces: Pensions

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what average pension is payable to a soldier who retired after 15 years in the British Army on 30 April 1997 as a sergeant in  (a) a Gurkha regiment and  (b) a regiment in the UK.

Kevan Jones: Pensions paid under the terms of the Gurkha Pension Scheme, which is now a closed scheme, are calculated in Indian currency rupees (ICR) and paid in Nepalese currency rupees (NCR). This is because the scheme retains a structural link to the Indian Army Pension Scheme and also has the benefit of protecting pensioners from fluctuations in the pounds sterling/NCR rates of exchange. Members of the scheme qualified for immediate payment of pension on completion of 15 years service.
	The current rate of pension for a former Gurkha soldier who retired in the rank of Sergeant on 30 April 1997, after 15 years service, is ICR 13,687.64 per month.
	Expressed in pounds sterling, at the 1 June 2009 exchange rate, this gives the following annual rates provided below.
	Gurkha Sergeant after 15 years: £2,149.56 a year, paid immediately on leaving the Army.
	A non-Gurkha soldier who was in the Armed Forces Pension Scheme 1975 (AFPS 75), unlike his Gurkha counterpart, did not receive a pension until age 60, if he left after 15 years' service. The AFPS 75 pensions for a sergeant as calculated on the last day of service on 30 April 1997 is provided below.
	Sergeant after 15 years: Preserved pension of £4,162.13 a year.
	There would be no payment until age 60, at which point the pension calculated on the last day of service would be index linked by rises in the retail prices index over the period. While the Gurkha pension is lower it is paid from an earlier age and over a longer period and is therefore well suited to life in Nepal, where it provides an income that equates to a very good working wage.
	Gurkha soldiers on leaving the Army on 30 April 1997, on completion of 15 years service, would also have received lump sums, provided below in pounds sterling, but paid in NCR.
	
		
			  Gurkha sergeant 
			   £ 
			 Retirement gratuity 972.61 
			 Resettlement grant 3,201.54 
		
	
	A sergeant leaving the wider Army on 30 April 1997, on completion of 15 years service, would have received a resettlement grant of £6,218. In addition soldiers with a preserved pension receive a pension lump sum at age 60 of three times the sum of their uplifted pension.

Departmental Billing

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 18 May 2009,  Official Report, column 1171W, on departmental billing, how much his Department's non-departmental public bodies paid in interest under the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998 in the last three years.

Quentin Davies: The Ministry of Defence has five service museums classified as executive non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) that receive Grant in Aid from the Department. During the financial years 2005-06, 2006-07 and 2007-08, no interest was paid by any of these under the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998.
	This does not include any payments that may have been made by commercial trading arms associated to the museums as these are not funded from Grant in Aid and therefore outside of the remit of the Department.

Piracy: Navy

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for New Forest East of 22 June 2009,  Official Report, column 626W, on piracy, how many weapons of each type the Royal Navy has seized from suspected pirates in the last 12 months.

Bill Rammell: The Royal Navy has seized a total of 41 weapons during the boarding of pirate vessels in the past 12 months. These weapons consisted of 31 assault rifles, six rocket propelled grenades and four pistols.

RAF Fylingdales

Colin Challen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish the agreement of 5 November 2007 between the Secretary of State for Defence and the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to amend the boundaries of the land in the Register of Titles concerning RAF Fylingdales.

Kevan Jones: A copy of the agreement to amend the boundaries of the land in the Register of Titles concerning RAF Fylingdales is being obtained and will be placed in the Library of the House as soon as practicable.

Children: Protection

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families pursuant to the answer of 11 June 2009,  Official Report, column 234W, on children: protection, under what budgetary headings he expects the £57.8 million new spending to come.

Dawn Primarolo: The £57.8 million new investment together with the existing £73 million brings Government's investment in the children and families' social work workforce to £130 million between April 2008 and March 2011. This Social Work Transformation Fund is being used to fund children and families' social work workforce commitments made in "The Children's Plan: Building Brighter Futures; Building Brighter Futures: Next Steps for the Children's Workforce" and the Government's response to Lord Laming's "The Protection of Children in England: A Progress Report".
	The Transformation Fund will increase the capacity of the system to recruit, train and support social workers, and implement change in the immediate term. The Social Work Task Force, established by the Secretaries of State for Health and for Children, Schools and Families will make recommendations on any long term reform needed in the autumn.
	This funding is spent under budgetary heading RfR1: To help build a competitive economy and inclusive society by: creating opportunities for everyone to develop their learning; releasing potential in people to make the most of themselves; and achieving excellence in the standards of education and levels of skills.

Departmental Air Travel

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Rochford and Southend East of 6 October 2008,  Official Report, column 477W, and pursuant to the answer of 16 December 2008,  Official Report, column 741W, on departmental air travel, what distance of air travel was offset by his Department in 2007-08; and what proportion of such travel was  (a) domestic,  (b) short-haul and  (c) long-haul.

Diana Johnson: The total distance of air travel used during 2007-08 to offset travel taken by Department for Children, Schools and Families was 1,790,103 km.
	The proportion of travel is broken down as follows:
	
		
			   km 
			  (a) Domestic 477,167 
			  (b) Short haul 289,996 
			  (c) Long haul 1,022,939 
		
	
	The Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) and Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) was created as a result of the machinery of government changes in June 2007. The number of air miles used to calculate the DCSF payment for the 2007-08 also includes air travel for DIUS (former DfES staff only). To separate these data would involve disproportionate cost.

Departmental Billing

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families pursuant to the answer of 18 May 2009,  Official Report, column 1239W, on departmental billing, how much each of his Department's non-departmental public bodies paid in interest to suppliers under the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998 in the last three years.

Diana Johnson: The Department currently has nine non-departmental public bodies. They are independent organisations and records are not held centrally by the Department with regards to interest payments to suppliers under the Late Payment of Commercial Debt (Interest) Act 1998.

Asylum: Bahrain

Ken Purchase: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 20 May 2009,  Official Report, column 1459W, on asylum: Bahrain, which sources of evidence the UK Border Agency used in making decisions on asylum applications from Bahraini citizens in the last five years.

Phil Woolas: The UK Border Agency uses a variety of published and reputable sources of information in making decisions. I cannot list all those which may have been referred to by the agency's decision-makers over the past five years, but the body of information includes reports from various Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, UNHCR, the annual US Department of State Country Report on Human Rights Practices and the UK Government's own agencies.

Entry Clearances: Overseas Students

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether student visa applications made before 31 March 2009 are determined in accordance with the immigration rules in force at that time.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 22 June 2009
	Yes. Student visa applications submitted prior to 31 March 2009 are determined under the immigration rules in force at that time.

Members: Correspondence

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the visa enquiry office of the Islamabad consulate plans to reply to the hon. Member for Edinburgh West's correspondence of 24 April 2009, on his constituent Mr U. Malik.

Phil Woolas: The UK Border Agency (Visa Services) replied to the hon. Member on 11 June 2009.

Migration

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  which of the recommendations relating to migration made by the Home Affairs Committee between 2005 and 2007 have been implemented by his Department; how many such recommendations he plans to implement; and what recent steps he has taken to implement such recommendations;
	(2)  when he plans to answer Question 269301, tabled on 1 April 2009, on implementation of recommendations of the Home Affairs Committee relating to migration.

Phil Woolas: In October 2007 the Home Office provided the Home Affairs Select Committee with a progress report on implementing the accepted recommendations in the report HC775. The Government responded to the Committee's report on Justice and Home Affairs Issues at European Union Level on (HC76-I) on 11 October 2007.

Terrorism

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 15 June 2009,  Official Report, column 40W, on terrorism, what follow-up action on protective security is necessary after Project Argus events.

Alan Johnson: Project Argus events are not designed to provide bespoke advice on protective security for individual businesses but follow-up action may include providing advice on specific protective security issues raised by businesses.

Terrorism

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 15 June 2009,  Official Report, column 40W, on terrorism, whether any central record is kept of the organisations which have participated in Project Argus training.

Alan Johnson: While organisations that have attended Project Argus events are recorded and held locally by the police counter-terrorism security advisers (CTSAs), there is no central record.

Travel Restrictions

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 17 June 2009,  Official Report, column 321W, on travel restrictions, with which foreign governments his officials have discussed the Government's policy on exclusion since 5 May 2009.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 25 June 2009
	The Government of the United States of America.

Work Permits

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many work permits have been issued to non-UK nationals in each quarter since 1 January 2007.

Phil Woolas: The number of work permit applications approved for non-UK nationals in each quarter for the period 1 January 2007 to 31 December 2008 is shown in the following table:
	
		
			Number 
			 Q1 2007 35,510 
			 Q2 2007 33,160 
			 Q3 2007 34,010 
			 Q4 2007 28,380 
			 Q1 2008 28,260 
			 Q2 2008 32,335 
			 Q3 2008 38,460 
			 Q4 2008 24,655 
			 Total — 254,765 
			  Notes:  1. Figures are rounded to nearest 5.  2. The figures quoted are not provided under National Statistics protocols and have been derived from local management information and are therefore provisional and subject to change.

Work Permits

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 11 February 2009,  Official Report, column 2057W, on work permits, how many applications for a work permit on the basis of an intra-company transfer in respect of non-UK nationals were  (a) made and  (b) granted in each quarter since January 2004.

Phil Woolas: The number of work permit applications made and approved for Intra-Company Transfers in each quarter since January 2004 is shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Work permit intra-company transfer applications made and approved for each quarter during the period 1 January 2004 to 31 December 2008 
			   Q1  Q2  Q3  Q4  Total 
			  2004  
			 Applications made 8,235 8,005 9,355 8,050 33,645 
			 Applications approved 8,060 7,765 9,140 7,805 32,770 
			   
			  2005  
			 Applications made 8,460 8,845 8,900 8,475 34,680 
			 Applications approved 8,250 8,595 8,610 8,290 33,745 
			   
			  2006  
			 Applications made 10,860 10,745 11,200 11,145 43,950 
			 Applications approved 10,625 10,520 10,960 10,945 43,050 
			   
			  2007  
			 Applications made 12,865 12,960 12,945 11,460 50,230 
			 Applications approved 12,590 12,685 12,440 11,020 48,735 
			   
			  2008  
			 Applications made 12,375 13,385 14,565 9,385 49,710 
			 Applications approved 11,870 12,930 14,135 9,080 48,010 
			  Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to nearest 5. 2. Because of rounding, figures may not add up to totals shown. 3. The figures quoted are not provided under National Statistics protocols and have been derived from local management information and are therefore provisional and subject to change.

Written Questions: Government Responses

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he plans to answer Question 269160, tabled on 1 April 2009, on tourist visas.

Phil Woolas: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 11 June 2009,  Official Report, column 938W.

Written Questions: Government Responses

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he plans to answer question 272236, tabled on 27 April 2009, on highly-skilled migrants.

Phil Woolas: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 18 June 2009,  Official Report, column 456W.

Colin Matthews and BAA

Norman Baker: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills on what dates since 1 January 2007  (a) the Secretary of State,  (b) other Ministers and  (c) officials in his Department have (i) met and (ii) had discussions with (A) Colin Matthews and (B) BAA.

Ian Lucas: holding answer 19 May 2009
	My right hon. Friend the Member for Barrow and Furness, the then Secretary of State for BERR, met Sir Nigel Rudd on 28 November 2007 and 13 March 2008. My noble Friend, Lord Jones of Birmingham, the then Minister for Trade and Investment met Sir Nigel Rudd on 30 April 2008. My noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Competitiveness and Small Business met Colin Matthews on 1 May 2009. Officials also met a representative from BAA on 21 October 2008, and had further discussions with BAA prior to each ministerial meeting shown above.

Insolvency

Mark Oaten: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 10 June 2009,  Official Report, columns 925-26W, on insolvency, whether he has made an estimate of the projected increase in numbers of company administrations in 2009-10, based on the trends identified; and whether he has made an assessment of the merits of making additional funds available to the Insolvency Service to take account of the increase in the number of company administrations owing to the current economic situation.

Ian Lucas: holding answer 23 June 2009
	 No official estimates of the number of company administrations in 2009/10 and beyond have been compiled by the Insolvency Service (The Service). This is because company administrations are overseen by private practice insolvency practitioners, and so do not require additional funds from The Service. Administrators have a duty to report to the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills on the conduct of directors and shadow directors of a company in administration. Where an adverse report has been submitted, The Service may carry out an investigation. The Service has implemented a number of initiatives to assist in the planning and management to deal with increases in the number of adverse reports, including more pro-active targeting and prioritisation of cases.
	The Service also monitors compliance by insolvency practitioners with Statement of Insolvency Practice 16 (SIP 16 Pre-packaged sales in administrations), with which all insolvency practitioners are required to comply. Pre-pack administrations are where a sale of the business or assets is arranged before administration and executed by the administrator immediately on or shortly after their appointment. SIP 16 requires insolvency practitioners in pre-pack administrations to explain in detail to creditors the background to their appointment and the reasons for any transaction undertaken through a pre-pack.
	An increase in the number of administrations could result in an increase in the number of reports submitted to the Service under SIP 16. This work is part of The Service's regulatory function. The Service has increased its fees to insolvency practitioners to cover our regulation work in relation to SIP 16s.
	The Redundancy Payments Services has also had additional funds available to take into account the increase in the number of overall company insolvencies.

Train to Gain Programme

Steve Webb: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how people who lose their jobs can access the Train to Gain opportunities announced by his Department on 14 October 2008.

Kevin Brennan: The programme announced includes £100 million for support for people who are unemployed or facing redundancy. We now expect that funding to provide training places for around 70,000 people.
	Individuals who are under notice of redundancy will be able to access the funding training arranged by their employers. Employers will be able to get help and advice and access training through brokerage service run by Business Link or by contacting the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) for advice.
	People who are recently redundant or who have been claiming unemployment benefits and who can be helped back into work through this targeted training programme will be able to access the programme by referral from their local JobCentre Plus office or next steps agency.

British Constitution

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the statement of 10 June 2009,  Official Report, columns 795-99, on constitutional renewal, what options for sanctions he plans to propose for hon. Members who breach the proposed statutory code of conduct.

Barbara Keeley: I have been asked to reply.
	Clause 9 of the Parliamentary Standards Bill as published creates new criminal offences relating to claims for allowances and Members' financial interests. The House will also retain its current disciplinary powers in relation to misconduct by Members.

Departmental Billing

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the Answer of 15 June 2009,  Official Report, column 62W, on departmental billing, how much his Department's non-departmental public bodies paid in interest under the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998 in the last three years.

Michael Wills: None of the non-departmental public bodies sponsored by the Ministry of Justice paid any interest to suppliers under the late Payment of Commercial Debt (Interest) Act 1998 in the last three years, (from April 2006 through to March 2009). Although the Ministry of Justice was only formed in May 2007 the figures provided for the three-year period requested are correct, as any payments made under this Act must be disclosed in the audited annual report and accounts of each individual body. No such disclosures were made. Copies of these documents are held in the Library of the House of Commons.

Departmental Catering

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 1 June 2009,  Official Report, column 76W, on departmental catering, what the level of subsidy for provision of food and drink to the Ministry of Justice headquarters estate was in financial year 2007-08.

Jack Straw: The subsidy for the provision of food and drink to the Ministry of Justice estate was £180,000 for the financial year 2007-08.

Victim Support Schemes

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 30 April 2009,  Official Report, column 1442W, on Victim Support Schemes, 
	(1)  how many of the organisations he wrote to have successfully applied for funding for 2009-10;
	(2)  how many organisations which had not previously received funding from his Department applied for funding for 2009-10; and how many such applications have been approved by his Department.

Jack Straw: The 2008-09 grants from the Victims Fund for organisations supporting victims of sexual violence have been renewed for this financial year (2009-10). All 39 organisations that we wrote to about the grant renewal process received a grant for this year.
	Organisations that had not received previous funding were eligible to apply to the Victims Fund homicide round. 18 applications were received and of these 12 had not received previous funding from the Victims Fund. This is now closed and grant awards will be made shortly by the Home Office.
	The Home Office has launched the hate crime section of the Victims Fund for the financial year 2009-10. This round is currently open for applications and organisations that have not received previous funding are eligible to apply.

Victim Support Schemes: Finance

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  pursuant to the answer of 30 April 2009,  Official Report, column 1442W, on victim support schemes, how many organisations that he wrote to have applied for funding from his Department for 2009-10; and when he expects funding to be awarded to successful applicants;
	(2)  whether organisations which had not previously received funding from his Department were able to apply for funding for 2009-10; and when he expects funding to be awarded to successful applicants.

Jack Straw: The 2008-9 grants from the Victims Fund for organisations supporting victims of sexual violence have been renewed for this financial year. All the 39 organisations that we wrote to about the grant renewal process received a grant for this year.
	Organisations that have not received previous funding were eligible to apply to the Victims Fund homicide round. This is now closed and grant awards will be made shortly by the Home Office. The Victims Fund hate crime will be made shortly by the Home Office. The Victims Fund hate crime round is currently open for applications and organisations that have not received previous funding are eligible to apply.